Ellen maeia paige



(No Model.)

B. M. PAIGE. CONVERTIBLE GARMBNTI Patented Nov. 24, 1885.

N. PETERS. Phbwumo hpher. Washinglpn. D.C.

UniTnn dTaTne PATENT FFIB0 ELLEN MARIA PAIGE, OF BRIGHTON, COUNTY OF SUSSEX, ENGLAND.-

CONVERTIBLE GARMENT.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,920, dated November 24. 1885.

Application filed April 15, 1885. Serial No. 162,298. (No model.) Patented in England December 1, 1884, No.15,79, and in France February 2, 1885, No. 166,770.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELLEN MARIA PAIGE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, resid ing at Brighton, county of Sussex, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Convertible Garments forUse as aPetticoat or Drawers, (for which I have obtained a provisional patent in Great Britain, numbered 15,789, dated December 1, 1884,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved petticoat or skirt which is adapted to be converted at will into a pair of drawers.

The said invention consists in an ordinary petticoat or skirt, which is vertically divided at the front, and also at the back, and provided along the edges or lines of division with buttons and button-holes, whereby it may be buttoned together as a complete skirt, or its two parts may individually have their edges buttoned together to form drawers.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of myimproved skirt, the parts thereof being unfastened and spread apart. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the skirt or petticoat buttoned together for use as such. Fig. 3 represents a similar view of the article buttoned into the form of drawers, and Fig. 4 represents a side view of the same. Figs. 5 and 6 represent another form of the petticoat-drawers as worn.

In said drawings, A designates the waistband of my improved petticoat-drawers, this being provided at the rear, as usual,with buttons a and button-holes a,for securing the ends of said band together. B designates the skirt or petticoat proper suspended from said band. In my improvement this skirt is divided behind from top to bottom as indicated in Fig. 1; and it is also divided in front from a point considerably below said waistband (and corresponding in position to the crotch of a pair of drawers) to the bottom or lower edge of said skirt. These slits at front and back divide the skirt or petticoat into two equal parts or sections, B B which are united at the top by the material above the front slit or cleft, (marked 12,) and provided on the opposite sides of this cleft with buttons 0 and button-holes d in corresponding series for thepurpose of closing said slit 5 in arranging the article for use as a petticoat. The side edges of the front slit are provided in like manner with buttons 0 and button-holes D,whereby said edges may be secured together for the same purpose. These latter edges are further provided with buttons and button-holes arranged in separate series for engagement with those marked a d-that is to say, the section B is provided near its rear edge with a series of button-holes, e, for engagement with a series of buttons, c,on or near its front edge, and, conversely, the other section, B ,of the garment has aseries of buttons, f, on its front edge for engagement with the button-holes d on its rear edge.

To convert the petticoat intoa pair of drawers, it is unbuttoned in front and behind, and the sections B B thus separated are wrapped individually around the legs of the wearer and fastened in the form of drawers by causing the buttons 0 to engage with the button-holes e, and the buttons f to engage with the butt0nholes at. This produces apair of drawerssuch as I have represented in Figs. 3 and 4c. The slit 1) may, if preferred, be continued up to the lower edge of the band, and whether thus extended or not any suitable fastenings--such as hooks and eyes or lacingsmay be substituted for the buttons and button-holes shown. Any textile fabric may be used as material for this convertible article, or, indeed, any substance whatever possessing the necessary softness and flexibility.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate another and still more convenient method of foldingto form the drawers-viz., the front corner twisted round and buttoned behind the leg, and the rear corner folded round and buttoned half-way up the thigh.

I do not limit myself to the precise position of the buttons and button-holes or any precise method of folding, as the position of the holes and buttons will vary according to the size of the wearer, and the folding may be varied at will without avoiding the scope of my invention.

I am aware that a shirt for men and boys has been made having vertical slits in the front and rear of the lower part thereof, (instead of in the sides, as commonly made,) the flaps or ICO shirttails thus produced being provided at the corners with buttons and button-holes,wl1ereby these corners may be attached to one another to form short trunks partly covering the upper parts of the thighs, an apron being arranged behind the front flap to cover the opening on the inner side of each trunk above the button. This device I do not claim, as it would not in the least answer my purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A petticoat divided from top to bottom behind, and nearly from top to bottom in front, and provided with buttons and button-holes along the clefts or lines of division, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The section B and the section B, in combination with the material which unites them above the front cleft, b, thesaid sections being respectively provided with a row of buttons and a row of button-holes along the edges of said cleft, and double rows thereof along the other vertical edges of said sections, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELLEN MARIA PAIGE. Witnesses:

W. K. OARGILL, GEORGE COLEMAN, Both of 63 Ship Street, Brighton, Clerks t0 llIr. Edwin Boxall, Solicitor and Notary Public. 

